From The Fields

Blair Hoseth,  Mahnomen, Minn. — May 20

“We had not had rain in six weeks.” The Land spoke to Blair Hoseth on May 20 as he reported the farm finally got a quarter of an inch of rain that morning with even more rain in the forecast.

Hoseth finished planting soybeans on May 8. The crop went in the ground well. “The wheat is coming up and looks pretty good. It needs moisture.” The corn crop was done being planted on May 15 with Hoseth also putting in a test plot the same day. He started corn on May 6.

In the next 10 days Hoseth will begin spraying wheat. He will also be getting the cows out to pasture and finish with calving. With the lack of moisture, it will be two more weeks until the first cutting of hay. “The pasture and hay look way too short. Hay at best is a foot high.”

“Our biggest concern is getting enough moisture.” Hoseth is grateful to have gotten all the crops in the ground in a timely fashion. Now if there could be some nice rains to move the crops along, that would be ideal for Hoseth and his neighbors in the Mahnomen, Minn. area. He hopes the forecast is accurate and additional rain is indeed on its way. v Rain has been elusive on the Wertish farm so far this spring. The Land caught up with Steve Wertish on May 20 as he reported just two-tenths of an inch of rain fell the night before while other places in the area received considerably more moisture in that event. “Nowhere around here got much rain.”

The sugar beets in general are looking good. “There are some decent looking fields,” Wertish said. While most corn fields are doing well, Wertish noted that he did spot some fairly poor stand in places. “A lot of the soybeans aren’t up, the same with the sweet corn.”

“Next week we’ll start spraying some corn.” The beets have a cover crop of wheat and oats, Wertish will kill that off next week as well. On the seed business side, Wertish will continue with organizing boxes and pallets as well as handling seed returns. He also plans on dealing with some field issues. “We’ll work on the tile lines; we noticed a few problems.”

“A little rain would be very welcome.” Wertish overall feels extremely fortunate the crops went in the ground so smoothly this spring. “In general, I’m feeling good about the year so far.” Now just bring on the rain! v The Land caught up with Mark Wettergren on May 21 as he was thrilled to report one and a quarter inches of rain fell at the farm on May 20. “It was really what we needed, that was perfect, ideal.”

Wettergren finished planting corn on April 30 and started on soybeans that day. “It’s very even stand; the corn came up really even.” The beans were planted in moisture. He finished putting beans on May 7. Wettergren’s brother, Richard, was done rolling them that same day. “The beans came up really nice.”

Wettergren has gotten the sprayer out and ready to go. He expects to be spraying this Monday or Tuesday if the weather allows. “We should be wrapped up in three days.” He’s also working on servicing some of the equipment.

After spraying is complete, Wettergren hopes to head south to Tennessee to spend some quality time with his grandkids for a few days. With everything looking good in the field, and the nice timely rain that fell, taking a break to hang out the grandkids is icing on a great spring so far for Wettergren. v

FROM THE

FIELDS

Compiled by KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Staff Writer



Steve Wertish, Olivia, Minn. — May 20 Mark Wettergren, St. Peter, Minn. — May 21

2013 Kentworth T660

Paccar, 455 HP, Just in, very clean, steers are half, drives at 80%, Jake, Cruise, Air Slide 5th, load gauge, 675,105 miles Call For Price

23774 380th Ave. Hancock, MN 56244 P: (320) 795-2827 F: (320) 795-2892 www.kannegiessertrucksales.com

2007 KENTWORTH T600 1999 Fruehauf Van

Cummins overhauled @ 614,740 miles, 475HP, 13 spd, very clean, 28 foot, 2- 1600 gal. tanks, 2” electric hose reel, 2 inductors, 3” fill, steers 80%, drives 50-60%, new brakes & drums, jake, cruise, 2” out, 2” pump, wired for 12V pumps and lights, roll up alum. door PW, PL, PM, air ride, air slide, load gauge, 918,064 miles. Call For Price For Sale Price: $10,900

2012 VOLVO VNL62T630 2003 Volvo VNL62T630

D13, 10 speed, 425HP, Clean, just in, brakes and drums 50%, Just in, 465 HP, 10 speed manual, VED 12, Eaton Fuller, jake, cruise, air ride, 693,000 miles Cruise, Jake, Air Ride, 60” Mid Roof Sleeper Call For Price For Sale Price: $8,500